Archives for September 2006

Do you have any special skills?

A unique, yet possibly quirky talent?

I do! I’m a quick change artist.

I don’t remember exactly when I realized that I had this super power. I think that acquiring super powers is something like getting a headache. It’s not there, it’s not there, BOOM, Oh my gosh do I ever have a headache. Curiously headaches seem to leave the same way too don’t they?

But I digress, back to my talent.

I can completely change my top in public without anyone being able to see any parts that I don’t want seen. Ah, I know, not much fun for those watching ’cause they probably want to see what I’m trying to hide. Tough.

How did I acquire this hidden talent? And why? Well, I think it had something to do with having a cottage as a child. Huh?

Well, we used to go up to our cottage in the late fall, and early spring, sometimes we even went in the winter. Do you know how cool cottage bedrooms that are far from the Oil heater or fireplace get in the cool months? They’re freezing!

As a child I was forced to master changing from whatever I was wearing- usually pants and a top and perhaps a sweater, into my little nightie or flannel pj’s (depending on the time of year) without actually baring any flesh to the frigid air. This was the only way to avoid massive goosebumps, and a case of the shivers that often lasted 2 hours or so.

So it makes sense that I developed this talent out of necessity as a child, right? But I still use my hidden talent on occasion. Sometimes it’s necessary.

Take for example my most recent quick change scenario:

Last Saturday, while we were in Chicago, we were rushing to find the concert hall that we had to be at before 8 p.m. after leaving the downtown area. We were lost. We’d left the downtown area at about 7:15 p.m. after our afternoon of sightseeing and picture taking, knowing that we were cutting it close. By 7:45 p.m. my husbands brother realized we were lost and finally stopped for directions.

I had a feeling this might happen. I had wanted to change from the t-shirt and shorts that I was wearing while touring downtown Chicago into a nice top and some jeans prior to the concert. Just before we left our parking space I’d grabbed my top out of the the trunk and brought it into the front passenger seat with me. I had a feeling that I would need to do a quick change scene.

Knowing we’d only just get there in time to get in and find our seats before the concert started I decided to change my top. I don’t think I’ve ever done this before while moving slowly through crowded city streets, in the front of a car with the window down and the sunroof open. If I made a mistake, not only would my friends and family get an unexpected exposure, but so would complete strangers who were passing by our car as we drove the crowded streets, or when we were stopped at a set of lights.

I was also trying to be a good law abiding citizen and keep my seat belt (lap and shoulder strap) on while completing this quick change. This complicated matters, as did the fact that I was trying to change into a tiny little tank top with multiple holes for my arms or neck to make a mistake poking through.

It was a struggle! It was probably like watching someone struggle out of a straight jacket. At one point my arm was stuck in an awkward position behind my back, in the tank top that was under my t-shirt. I thought I might have to dislocate my shoulder to complete the act, or be forced to bare it all. Finally, my arm slipped into the right place and the tank top was in place. Off came my t-shirt to reveal the cute tank underneath.

I didn’t know what the concert would be like, dressy, casual or what. So I decided to put a nice open shirt over the tank top. Unfortunately I was still wearing the shorts. What I was wearing on top didn’t quite go with the shorts I was wearing, but I’ve yet to master changing into tight jeans while in a car. If they’d been baggy or looser jeans yeah, I probably would have tried. Oh well.

Since I have these unique super powers I decided to take a test to find out which Super Hero I’m most like:

Your results:

You are Spider-Man

Click here to take the “Which Superhero am I?” quiz…
Where does Spiderman change anyway? Doesn’t he always just appear in costume whenever he’s needed? Yeah, he must be a quick change artist too. As you can see I’m also 80% like Superman and we all know he changes in telephone booths, right? Kinda like me changing in a car.

So which Super Hero are you, and do you have any hidden talents or skills that match your Super Hero persona?

Come on, talk to me.